I met Tom Hill a few months ago when he spoke at our Vistage Group. His talk was fascinating. Since then I get his Friday Newsletter and read it without fail. In Eaglezine issue, I found this interesting piece about Oxymorons.
Oxymoron [def]
A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.
(from Dictionary.com )
(from Dictionary.com )
Here are a few oxymorons
United nations
Virtual reality
Open secret
Minor miracle
Non-alcoholic wine
Extensive briefing
Unbiased opinion
Almost exactly
Dodge Ram
Constant change
Half full
Assistant supervisor
Black light
High ground
Crisis management
Ill health
Nothing much
Partially completed
Authentic replica
Random order
Small fortune
Student teacher
Steel wool
Civil War
Half dead
Exact estimate
Completely unfinished
New tradition
Act naturally
Found missing
Original copy
Resident alien
Genuine imitation
Dry wine
Good grief
Uninvited guest
Highly depressed
Final version
Sanitary landfill
Rigid flexibility
Small crowd
Live recording
Dry lake
Good beating
Rock opera
Bittersweet
Farewell reception
Deafening silence
War games
Death benefits
Clearly confused
Rolling stop
Safety hazard
Clearly misunderstood
Initial results
Friendly argument
Healthy tan
Cold sweat
Holy war
Peace force
Minor disaster
Home office
Extinct life
Random logic
Plastic glasses
Terribly pleased
Political science
Tight slacks
Definite maybe
Pretty ugly
Rap music
Working vacation
Even odds
Great Depression
Terribly nice
Jumbo shrimp
Freezer burn
Same difference
Second best
Alone together
Work party
Standard options
Sweet sorrow
Now, then
Passive aggression
Soft rock
Virtual reality
Open secret
Minor miracle
Non-alcoholic wine
Extensive briefing
Unbiased opinion
Almost exactly
Dodge Ram
Constant change
Half full
Assistant supervisor
Black light
High ground
Crisis management
Ill health
Nothing much
Partially completed
Authentic replica
Random order
Small fortune
Student teacher
Steel wool
Civil War
Half dead
Exact estimate
Completely unfinished
New tradition
Act naturally
Found missing
Original copy
Resident alien
Genuine imitation
Dry wine
Good grief
Uninvited guest
Highly depressed
Final version
Sanitary landfill
Rigid flexibility
Small crowd
Live recording
Dry lake
Good beating
Rock opera
Bittersweet
Farewell reception
Deafening silence
War games
Death benefits
Clearly confused
Rolling stop
Safety hazard
Clearly misunderstood
Initial results
Friendly argument
Healthy tan
Cold sweat
Holy war
Peace force
Minor disaster
Home office
Extinct life
Random logic
Plastic glasses
Terribly pleased
Political science
Tight slacks
Definite maybe
Pretty ugly
Rap music
Working vacation
Even odds
Great Depression
Terribly nice
Jumbo shrimp
Freezer burn
Same difference
Second best
Alone together
Work party
Standard options
Sweet sorrow
Now, then
Passive aggression
Soft rock
You can read more about Tom Hill and his Friday newsletter at Eagle Institute website
Enjoy!